Method and apparatus for forming con-
crete box culvert foundation



'DeC- 20, 1966 w. H. HERBERGER l 3,293,335

- METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING CONCRETE Box CULVERT EQUNDATION Filed March 16, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheetv 1 ZZ /6 Z v 'IV'. 66 7 y 'l /Nl/E/vTa/Q '1 fzllw" 53 WALTER Aff/025547645@ 55K/4 mm Dec. 20, 1965 w. H.v HERBERGER 3,293,335

v METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING CONCRETE BOX GULVERTFOUNDATION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 16, 1964 ATMP/v5? United States Patent O 3,293,335 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING CON- CRETE BOX CULVERT FOUNDATION Walter H. Herberger, R.R. 4, Indianola, Iowa 50125 Filed Mar. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 352,216 2 Claims. (Cl. 264-31) This invention relates generally to a concrete box culvert, and more particularly to la novel method and apparatus for forming a concrete box culvert.

It is an object 'of this invention to provide a novel method of shaping or forming a concrete box culvert.

Another object of this invention is to provide a .novel method of and apparatus for forming the foundation of a concrete box `culvert wherein all of the reinforcing steel is supported in place prior to the pouring of concrete for the foundation.

It is another 'object of this invention to provide a novel method of shaping or forming the floor f the foundation for a concrete box culvert.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel apparatus ,for forming or constructing a concrete box culvert, and particularly for forming the floor of the culverts foundation.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a method capable of 'attaining the above designated objectivesl which is simple and efficient, and an apparatus also capable of attaining the objectives which is simple, rugged, land effective.

These objects, land other features and advantages of this linvention will become readily apparent upon reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is -a fragmentary plan view of an embodiment of the invention shown in use in the forming of the floor of the culvert;

FIG. 2 is van enlarged sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 2, show ing la ymodification thereof;

FIG; 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a screed for shaping the oor surface; and

FIG. 5 is a transverse view of a barrel section of a finished culvert.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 5, Ia finished concrete box culvert is shown at a *barrel section thereof which lis indicated generally at and which is surrounded -by earth 11 or the like on the sides and bottom, and above which is shown a section of concrete highway 12. The highway 12 is shown directly above the top portion of the culvert 10, however, lill or the like may be found therebetween.

To form the box culvert 10, the earth 11 is removed or leveled off as the case may be for forms sufficient to enable the pouring, machine and handworking of the concrete to be installed. Thus, the ground is initially leveled olf at 13 in FIGS. 5 and 2. A plurality of longitudinally spaced stakes 14 are inserted in transversely spaced rows, the stakes 14 in each row being approximately ve feet apart on centers. The transverse spacing between each stake 14 is determined by the known width of the foundation 16 plus other factors of which the builder is aware, and which wil-l become known as the description unfolds.

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On the top of the ground level 13 (FIG. 2), an elongated section 17 of 2 x 4, sixteen feet for example, is secured as illustrated to the inside of each row of stakes 14. A plurality of upright 2 x 4 studs 18 of approximately two lfeet in length are then secured on two foot centers on top of the section 17, and another sixteen foot length of 2 x 4 section 19 is secured`on top of the studs 1S (FIG. 2). To this framework, la panel 21 of plywood is fastened as illustrated on the inside, and alon-g the entire length thereof. The two upright panels 21 are transversely spaced a distance predetermined according to the width of the foundation 16.

After the panel framework has been Iinstalled the dirt level 13is linely graded to the proper elevation.v A mat 22 of transverse and longitudinal reinforcing rods is then laid flat on the 4ground level, with the rods properly tied together (the mat 22 is shown in a raised, linal position in FIG. 2). Then a plurality of 2 x 4-8 crossties 23 FIGS. 1 and 2 are supported on their edges in longitudinally spaced, parallel, transversely extended relation `across the upper sections 19. Their longitudinal spacing is the same as the stakes 14 to which they are fastened.

After the -crossties 23 have been fastened in place, a transverse-ly spaced pair of 2 x 4 uprights 24 (FIG. 2) are nailed or otherwise fastened flat .against a com-mon side of each crosstie 23. The inside surface, or inner side 26 of each upright 24 is measured from the opposite upright 24 the width of the opening for the culvert 10, plus four inches. y The uprights 24 are disposed on the vertical, With the greater length extended .above the `crossties 23, and with the bottom portion depending below the crosstie a distance `such that the distance between the bottom edge 27 of an upright 24 and the Iground level 13 is the exact vertical thickness of the foundation 16. With all the uprights 24 then in place, a keyway former 2S having a frusto-conical shape in cross section is secured .as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 to the upright bottom edges 27. Each keyway former 2'8 is elongated, for example being sixteen feet in length. An elongated 2 x 4 plank 30k is secured .across the tops of each yrow of uprights 24.

To the inside of each upright 24a spacer block 29 having a three-quarter inch width is secured, with its bottom edge on a level with the bottom edge 27 of the upright 24. Then, to each longitudinal-ly spaced row of spacer blocks 29 is secured an elongated 2 x 4 elevation member 31 (FIGS. l and 2). The members 31 are installed so that their upper or top surfaces are level and are at a correct predetermined elevation.

The mat 22 is then raised to approximately a foot olf the ground level 13 and is suspended -by wire (not shown) or the like from the crossties 23. A reinforcing bar 32 (FIG. 2) is then laid -on top of the crossties 23- closely adjacent each row of uprights 24, and is secured there by nails 33 or the like. Reinforcing bars 34 (FIGS. 1 and 2) are then inserted in an upright position against the outer side of each elevation member 31, and are secured to the horizontal bar 32 land to the adjacent plane 30. The bars 34 are longitudinally spaced approximately one foot apart, and their bottom ends are about two inches fro-m the ground level 13.

The entire and completestructure has now been constructed and formed for the pouring land finishing of the foundation 16. Depending on several circumstances including condition of the concrete, availability of concrete,

manpower, weather, etc., concrete is now poured at one end of the structure, the end of which is boxed off or provided otherwise to retain the concrete. The pliable concrete is poured until the box formed by the panels 21 and the earth floor 13 is filled sutciently to form the foundation.

Although there are many floor surfaces, the present invention is adapted to form a foundation floor surface of the type best shown in cross section in FIG. 2. The invention is not limited, however, to this particular floor surface. It will be noted that the outer wing surfaces 36 have a level determined by the bottom surfaces 27 of the uprights 24, and by the under surfaces of the vspacer blocks 29 and the elevation members 31. Then, just inside the members 31, the floor wings 36 slope downwardly and inwardly at 37, with the central portion 38, or more specically the flow line, being flat and horizontal. The inner wing portions 39 (FIG. 3), the slopes 37, and the central portion 38 are formed by a novel screed 41.

The screed 41 comprises a front plate 42 and a back plate 43 of identical construction, each having a straight upper edge 44, depending outer edges 46, inwardly extended wing edges 47 parallel to the upper edges, inwardly and downwardly sloping edges 48 `and flat straight bottom edges. The plates 42 and 43 are held vertical, and longitudinally spaced and aligned by a pai-r of vertically disposed side walls 51, a pair of horizontal plates 52 extended between the wing edges 47 a pair of slope Walls 53 secured, as by welding, between the opposed pair of slope edges 47, and by a single bott-om shield 54 secured across the bottom edges 49. The slope walls 53 depend toward each other at the same degree from the horizontal and are the same width in cross section s-o that the bottom shield 54 is symmetrically located between the side walls 51. Except for the plates 52 which may be dispensed with under certain circumstances, the screed 41 has a shape in transverse cross section of a frusto-cone. The longitudinal length of the screed 41, relative t-o the framework is approximately two feet.

A pair of angle irons S6 (FIGS. 2 and 4) are secured to each side Wall 51 along the top edge thereof, are horizontally disposed, parallel, and with their horizontal anges in the same plane. The angle irons, which function as guides 56, are shown with the outer ends disposed outwardly of both the front and back plates 42 and 43, respectively, of the screed 41. The screed 41 is mounted with the guides 56 (FIGS. 1 and 2) riding on the top of the elevational members 31. It will be noted by referring to FIG. 2 particularly, that the side walls 51 of the screed are contiguous to the'inside surface of the members 31, and that the plates 52 are lon -a level with the under surfaces of the members 31 to aid in forming inner wing portion surfaces. The screed 41 is then ready to be pulled or pushed on top of the members 31 from one end of the framework, over the poured, pliable concrete, and toward the other end.

One method of moving the screed is to attach a cable 57 thereto, and to use a winch 55 (FIG. 1) -and pull the screed 41 through and over the concrete. As best viewed in FIGS. 1 and 4, the cable 57 includes .a pair of connectors S8 and 59 each of which is extended through an aperture 61 formed in the front plate 42. The free end of each connector is then inserted through a pair of apertures 62 and 63 in the back plate 43, and clamped on the inside of the back plate (FIG. l). The connectors are clamped together at 64, and to one end of the cable S7, While the other end of the cable 57 is connected to the winch 58.

Operation of the winch 55 thus effects movement of the screed 41 to the left as viewed in FIG. 1, and results in the concrete being shaped and formed according to the shape of the screed 41 as viewed from the rear in FIG. 2. Thus, the inner wing surfaces 39, the slope surfaces 37, and the central floor surface 38 are formed on the upper surface of the poured concrete for the foundation 16. The outer wing surfaces 36 are finished by hand tr-owels and like tools. As the screed 41 moves in one direction, concrete may tend to gather in front of it. This builds up either dissipates on its own, or it may be hand shoveled out of the path of the screed 41.

To provide that the screed 41 remain level as it rides on the elevation members 31, it is at times necessary to weight it down. This can be done by either sand bags or the like, or even a person. One other method is illustrated in FIG. 3, where a modified structure is shown. The spacer block 29 yof FIG. 2 is replaced by a taller one 29', and a member 66 having the same width `as the mernber 31 is secured through the spacers 29 to the uprights 24, at a spaced vertical distance above the member 31. Thus, the' horizontal flange 67 of the guide 56 can slidingly t in between the two elongated members 31 and 66.

In some states, it is required that the oor surface of the culvert foundation 16 be smooth, whereas in others a rough finish is required. Should smooth be necessary, the smooth metal of the screed 41 is excellent. To obtain a rough finish, however, a piece of wetted burlap 68 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is removably attached to the back plate 43 of the screed 41. The screed 41 is then rst pulled through the concrete Without the burlap 68, and is then pulled through with the burlap 68 trailing behind (see FIG. l).

It will have been noted that prior to the pouring of the con-crete for the purpose of forming the foundation 16, that all of the reinforcing material, specifically the mat 22 and the bars 34 was supported in place.

Although a preferred embodiment and one modification thereof have been described and disclosed hereinbefore, it is to be remembered that alterations and modifications can be made thereto Without departing from the true spirit yand scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of forming -a concrete box culvert foundation comprising the following steps:

staking a pair of ground-engaging panels a predetermined transverse distance apart;

laying a mat of reinfoncing steel rods on the ground surface between s-aid panels;

supporting a pair of longitudinally extended elements from and intermediate said panels in transversely spaced parallel relation; supporting a pair of longitudinally extended members from and intermediate said panels in transversely spaced relation and with the upper surfaces of said members placed in a common horizontal plane;

raising said mat above the ground surface and suspending said mat below said members;

pouring concrete in between said panels until it covers said mat and the bottom and side surfaces of said elements;

placing a foundation floor shaping screed between and on both of said members; and

moving said screed longitudinally along said members and through said concrete and utilizing said members to prevent transverse horizontal movement of said screed.

2. Apparatus for forming a concrete box culvert foundation comprising the following combination:

a pair of elongated panels the upper edges of which are horizontally disposed above the upper surfaces of the foundation to be formed;

means supporting said panels on the ground in an upright, transversely spaced relation;

a pair of longitudinally extended, parallel, transversely spaced elements connected to said panel supporting means, disposed between said panels and extended over the ground, each element having, its Side and bottom surfaces exposed;

a pair of longitudinally extended, parallel, transversely spaced members connected to said panel supporting means and disposed between said panels .and intermediate said elements, the upper surfaces of said members lying in a common horizontal plane;

a rnat lof reinforcing steel suspended from said panel supporting means and disposed in spaced relation above the ground; and

screed means movably mounted on said members longitudinally of said panels, said screed means including a screed member having an undersurface shaped according to a desired surface of the foundation to -be formed, and having further side walls disposed contiguous to the inner surfaces of said members for limiting the transverse movement of said screed.

ROBERT F. WHITE,

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Besser.

Heltzel 249-4 Collins 61-16 Jackson 264-31 Millikin et al 94-45 Olson 264-31 Millikin 94-45 Bennett 264-35 XR Mas-on 94-31 Primary Examiner.

I. A. FINLAYSON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A METHOD OF FORMING A CONCRETE NPXU CULVERT FOUNDATION COMPRISING THE FOLLOWING STEPS: STAKING A PAIR OF GROUND ENGAGING PANELS A PREDETERMINED TRANSVERSE DISTANCE APART; LAYING A MAT OF REINFORCING STEEL RODS ON THE GROUND SURFACE BETWEEN SAID PANELS; SUPPORTING A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLY EXENDED ELEMENTS FROM AND INTERMEDIATE SAID PANELS IN TRANSVERSELY SPACED PARALLEL REACTION; SUPPORTING A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDED MEMBERS FROM AND INTERMEDIATE SAID PANELS IN TRANSVERSELY SPACED RELATION AND WITH THE UPPER SURFACES OF SAID MEMBERS PLACED IN A COMMON HORIZONTAL PLANE; RAISING SAID MAT ABOVE THE GROUND SURFACE AND SUSPENDING SAID MAT BELOW SAID MEMBERS; POURING CONCRETE IN BETWEEN SAID PANELS UNTIL IT COVERS SAID MAT AND THE BOTTOM AND SIDE SURFACES OF SAID ELEMENTS; PLACING A FOUNDATION FLOOR SHAPING SCREED BETWEEN AND ON BOTH OF SAID MEMBERS; AND MOVING SAID SCREED LONGITUDINALLY ALONG SAID MEMBERS AND THROUGH SAID CONCRETE AND UTILIZING SAID MEMBERS TO PREVENT TRANSVERSE HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SCREED.
 2. APPARATUS FOR FORMING A CONCRETE BOX CULVERT FOUNDATION COMPRISING THE FOLLOWING COMBINTION: A PAIR OF ELONGATED PANELS THE UPPER EDGES OF WHICH ARE HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED AOVE THE UPPER SURFACES OF THE FOUNDATION TO BE FORMED; MEANS SUPPORTING SAID PANELS ON THE GROUND IN AN UPRIGHT, TRANSVERSELY SPACED RELATION; A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDED, PARALLEL, TRANSVERSELY SPACED ELEMENTS CONNECTED TO SAID PANEL SUPPORTING MEANS, DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID PANELS AND EXTENDED OVER THE GROUND, EACH ELEMENT HAVING ITS SIDE AND BOTTOM SURFACES EXPOSED; A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDED, PARALLEL, TRANSVERSELY SPACED MEMBER CONNECTED TO SAID PANEL SUPPORTING MEANS AND DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID PANELS AND INTERMEDIATE SAID ELEMENTS, THE UPPER SURFACES OF SAID MEMBERS LYING IN A COMMON HORIZONTAL PLANE; A MAT OF REINFORCING STEEL SUSPENDED FROM SAID PANEL SUPPORTING MEANS AND DISPOSED IN SPACED RELATION ABOVE THE GROUND; AND SECREED MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID MEMBERS LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID PANELS, SAID SCREED MEANS INCLUDING A SCREED MEMBER HAVING AN UNDERSUFACE SHAPED ACCORDING TO A DESIRED SURFACE OF THE FOUNDATION TO BE FORMED, AND HAVING FURTHER SIDE WALLS DISPOSED CONTIGUOUS TO THE INNER SURFACES OF SAID MEMBERS FOR LIMITING THE TRANSVERSE MOVEMENT OF SAID SCREED. 